Indians Soccer Kicks Off Season with a Win
NEWINGTON - If Indians head coach Jeff Brunetti and the Newington boys soccer team were trying to pick up right where they left off last year before getting eliminated from the Class LL Tournament by undefeated Xavier High School, they got off to a flying start last Tuesday afternoon with a 6-1 win at home against Platt.

       Brunetti has always emphasized good defense on a team that has been good at keeping scoring chances to a minimum-the Indians had a .79 goals against average last year, according to MaxPreps.com-but against Platt last week, it was a member of the back four who made the difference offensively.

       With the score knotted at 1-1 in the final two minutes of the first half, senior Alex Gomes, who played defense both in the center and on the wing at times during the game, took a loose ball in midfield and cut around the Panther player chasing it. After pushing the ball into the space ahead of him, he ripped a shot several yards outside the penalty box. The ball found its way through traffic in front of the net, and seemed to change direction as the Panthers goal keeper, diving to his right, watched it sneak past him near the middle of the net.

       The Indians would strike again in the 13th minute of the second half, when a through ball from the left wing found Paolo Amenta all alone in front of goal. With time and room, the senior forward unleashed a cannon past the helpless Panthers goal keeper and into the right corner of the net for the 3-1 Newington lead.

       After that, there was no way back for Platt, and the Indians were sure to further stress that point, notching 3 more goals before the final whistle was blown.

       Carlos Montano got things started for Newington with 17 minutes left in the first half. Following an Indians corner kick, the senior forward took a headed ball just outside the box and ripped a shot that went through traffic and into the left corner for the 1-0 lead.

       But the Panthers responded less than a minute later with a breakaway goal at the other end.
MORE NEWINGTON NEWS  |  STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  Sep 17 2014  |  COMMENTS?